NHS Lanarkshire has made arrangements to provide a range of contracted support services at University Hospital Wishaw in-house.
NHS Lanarkshire is delighted to announce that they have reached an agreement in principle with the private financial initiative provider Summit Healthcare Limited and the current support service contractor Serco Group PLC.
The affected services are catering, cleaning, portering, patient laundry, switchboard and security. They will transfer from Serco to NHS Lanarkshire later this year in return for an agreed level of compensation.
Colin Lauder, NHS Lanarkshire director of planning, property and performance, said: “We are delighted to announce that these services will be provided by an in-house team at University Hospital Wishaw.
“This is part of our long-term strategic aim and NHS Lanarkshire’s board commitment to bring staff providing these service back in-house as part of our strategic aim. To have these services delivered by directly employed staff is in line with the Scottish Government policy since 2008 to seek to provide services in-house where the opportunity exists to do so.
“The approximately 400 existing staff who deliver these essential support services will transfer under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE) to direct employment with NHS Lanarkshire.
“Building maintenance will continue to be provided by Serco.
“NHS Lanarkshire, Summit and Serco will now work through the legal and operational process of implementing the TUPE transfer to ensure that the employment rights of all staff affected are protected.
“Consultation with staff affected and their trade union representatives will begin immediately, though the transfer process is likely to take until the autumn to complete.
“NHS Lanarkshire would like stress that this transfer of responsibility is not a reflection on the quality of the patient-focused service provided by Serco over the past 22 years and, in particular, the last two years of the pandemic and wish to thank both Summit and Serco for their active participation in this process.”
Lilian Macer, NHS Lanarkshire employee director, said: “We have a strong desire to see these services provided by an in-house team. Ensuring these services are delivered by directly employed staff is a really positive move.
“I fully support the strategic direction which seeks to promote well-being and tackle inequalities for our local population, the staff, as well as delivering the very best healthcare possible through an integrated NHS team.”
Petra Moss, managing director of Serco’s health business, said: “At Serco we are proud to have delivered the catering, cleaning, portering, patient laundry, switchboard and security services at University Hospital Wishaw for the past 22 years.
“As NHS Lanarkshire stress this transfer is not a reflection of the patient-focused services provided by the Serco team and I would like to thank our colleagues for all their hard work and dedication, especially during the last two years of the pandemic.
“We look forward to continuing our relationship with NHS Lanarkshire as Serco continues to deliver building maintenance services at the hospital.”
Further updates will be provided as the transfer process continues into the summer.
Image credit: Shutterstock
